ITV's period drama 'Sanditon' has been hailed as a 'masterpiece' by viewers who are calling it the 'best Jane Austen adaptation ever'. The series, adapted from Austen's unfinished final novel of the same name, has captivated audiences with its 'profoundly juicy' and 'splendid' costume drama.
Adaptation by Andrew Davies
The series was penned and developed by Andrew Davies, the screenwriter who adapted Austen's 1813 novel 'Pride and Prejudice' for television in 1995. Davies also crafted acclaimed adaptations of 'Middlemarch' and 'Bleak House'. He used Austen's original 24,000-word manuscript, written before her death in 1817, as the foundation for the first episode, then wrote the rest of the story using her established characters.
Plot and Setting
'Sanditon' follows Charlotte Heywood, a spirited and impulsive woman who moves from her rural home to Sanditon, a fishing village attempting to reinvent itself as a seaside resort. The series first aired in the UK in August 2019 across eight episodes but was cancelled by ITV in December 2019. Following fan campaigns and backing from PBS's 'Masterpiece' anthology and BritBox, the show was revived for a second and third series.
Cast and Filming Locations
The cast includes Rose Williams, Theo James, Kate Ashfield, Crystal Clarke, Turlough Convery, Jack Fox, Kris Marshall, Anne Reid, Lily Sacofsky, and Charlotte Spencer. Filming took place in Somerset, with coastal towns like Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, and Brean featuring, while Dyrham Park near Bath doubled as Sanditon House.
Critical and Viewer Praise
One critic declared: 'An intoxicating pleasure bomb that will have you swooning and screaming at your TV screen.' Another reviewer said: 'A profoundly juicy watch that will both enrapture and enrage its audience - and I loved every second of it.' A third suggested Jane Austen herself would have been proud: 'Sanditon is sexy escapism for winter, tart and political, gorgeous and honest. Austen would have loved it.'
Viewers have been equally enthusiastic. One fan stated: 'Never in my life have I been so intensely swept away by a series. Sanditon is literally the best thing I've ever watched and I'm not exaggerating. The acting!! The ACTING!! Superb. The storyline is so captivating. I'm only sad that we won't get another season.' Another viewer said: 'This show is a beautiful story with vivid characters that are so relatable. Jane Austen's final, unfinished work was brought to life beautifully by all involved.'
One viewer declared: 'Love the show! It is the perfect blend of romance, witty conversations, beautiful scenery and a little bit of drama.' An IMDB review reads: 'This could be my favourite Austen adaptation and I thought that nothing could top the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.' Another IMDB review states: 'Superb, splendid, sumptuous! It's been a while that I have been so invested in a series! Sanditon is such a fresh and vibrant production.'
'Sanditon' is available to stream for free on ITVX.
